Transfer devices



Oct 24, 1967 i. K. B. LASERS? TRANSFER DEVICES File-d Kay 16, 1966 6 Silesia-Sheet 2 Ian Ken/um erm MSBKLY I 57 NW, ti 4 M Oct 5.5 1. K. B. 8,

TRANSFER DEVICES Filed May 16, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet J M/en Ian Kerr/ran Ba f/ M BQEY 1. 2X1 B. LASZBFYLLY TRANSFER DEVICES T3 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 24, @967 Filed May 16, 1966 TRANSFER D311" 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 16, 1966 j m/ nfir Jan Ken/m 31 WW, M

TRANSFER DEVICEK Oct 24, war 3 Filed May 16, 1966 Sheets-Sheet 6 in 1mm Begum L/z me United States Patent C 3,348,359 TRANSFER DEVICES Ian Kennan Bertram Lasbrey, Belfast, Northern Ireland, assignor to Short Brothers & Harland Limited, Belfast, Ireland, a company of Ireland Filed May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,387 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 17, 1965, 20,792/65 9 Claims. (Cl. 53-52) The invention relates to a device for transfer of an article from a stationary loading tray or support to a moving tray or carrier and finally into one of a plurality of stationary receiver, bins, bags or stillages and to machines incorporating such devices. The moving tray or carrier will hereinafter be referred to as a moving tray and the receiver bins, bags or stillages will hereinafter be referred to as receiver bags.

According to the invention we provide a transfer device comprising at least one stationary loading tray, at least one moving tray and a plurality of stationary receiver bags in combination with means for driving the moving tray along a path passing beneath the loading tray and above each of the received bags or chutes leading thereto, first means for initiating and controlling the transfer of an article from the loading tray to the moving tray when the relative position between the two trays is such that the article on the loading tray may fall onto the moving tray as the moving tray passes beneath the loading tray and second means for initiating and controlling the transfer of the article from the moving tray to a preselected receiver bag or chute when the relative position of the tray and the bag or chute is such that the article may fall into the bag as the moving tray passes over the bag or chute.

The moving tray or trays may travel in a continuous (e.g. circular) path and pass beneath the loading tray repeatedly.

It is preferred that the or each loading tray is provided with a base comprising two parts hinged at their outer side or edge, means for pivoting the parts such that an article thereon may pass between the hinged parts when they are opened (e.g. downwardly) and actuator means to control the opening and closing of the aforesaid hinged parts. The said actuator means are preferably automatically operated to open the hinged parts of the loading tray when the relative position of the moving tray to the loading tray is such that the opening of the hinged parts of the loading tray will cause an article thereon to fall on to the moving tray. In addition, means may be provided whereby the aforesaid operation of the actuator means to open the hinged parts of the loading tray is inhibited unless the receiver bag for the article on the loading tray has been preselected (e.g. by the operator having operated a destination key associated with the said receiver bag).

It is also preferred that the or each moving tray is provided, in a similar manner to the loading tray, with a base comprising two parts hinged at their outer side or edge and having means of pivoting the parts such that an article thereon may pass between the hinged parts. In such a case the hinged parts of the or each moving tray may be spring-urged into their open position and may be held in their closed position by a releasable latch or other equivalent means. Cam means may be provided to move the hinged parts from their open position to their closed position. It may also be possible for the or each loading tray to be operated in a similar manner although, in practice, the aforesaid actuator means for the or each loading tray is preferred.

Means are preferably provided whereby the releasable latch on the moving tray is withdrawn or released when 3,348,359 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 the relative position of the moving tray to the pre-selected receiver bag is such that the opening of the hinged parts will cause an article thereon to fall into the receiver bag.

The or each receiver bag may be provided with a chute to orientate the article during transfer from the or one of the moving trays so that is passes through the opening of the receiver bag with its greatest dimension in the direction of the axis of the receiver bag.

The receiver bag for any particular article may be preselected by the operation of an electronic or pneumatic push-button or switch. Additional means may also be provided for remembering electronically, pneumatically or mechanically the pre-selection of a receiver bag until such time as the or one ofthe moving trays collects an article from the loading tray on which it has been placed, the remembered pre-selection then being transferred to a mechancal memory mechanism attached to the moving tray, which means also cause the aforesaid mechanical memory mechanism to release a releasable latch on the moving tray when the relative position of the moving tray to the pre-selected receiver bag is such that the article thereon will fall into the bag.

Means may be provided whereby should the aforesaid mechanical memory on the moving tray, as it approaches a or the loading tray retain a pre-selection for a previous receiver bag, the mechanical memory will be cancelled. Also, in the case of there being more than one loading tray, means may be provided whereby if a loaded moving tray passes beneath a loading tray (e.g. to deliver its load to a bag beyond the loading tray) operation of the loading tray to deposit a further article on the moving tray is precluded.

In the preferred form of the invention, a machine incorporating the device described above is provided for sorting a number of packages or articles into a plurality of receiver bags which are hung vertically around the periphery of the machine. In this machine a plurality of moving trays are preferably assembled around a horizontal circular ring and are driven at a constant rotational speed by means of a motor so that each moving tray in turn passes beneath a plurality of loading trays and over each of the receiver bags. In this particular case the plurality of loading trays are preferably arranged in two pairs positioned diametrically opposite each other. The second loading tray of each pair is preferably interlinked with the first so that only one loading tray can open at any one time to transfer an article on to any one of the aforesaid moving trays which pass beneath them.

The plurality of moving trays also preferably rotate over a plurality of receiver chutes positioned to form two arcs of a circle oneither side of the two pairs of loading stations, the two arcs together with those occupied by the loading trays forming a full circle and the aforesaid chutes leading to the receiver bags each of which is hooked or similarly secured around the exit neck of its associated chute. The aforesaid chutes are preferably so shaped that the inner side wall slopes outwardly at an angle after being initially vertical before ending in a vertical neck side. This sloping side is preferably so arranged that a long article placed radially on the loading tray will, when falling into the receiver chute, strike its inner end (relative to the machine centre) on the aforesaid sloping side causing the article to be given a rotating motion so that its outer end will drop first through the exit neck of the chute into the receiver bag.

The front wall of each chute may be pivotable about its upper horizontal side into a position in which an article or articles may pass from the chute into the associated bag below or into a position in which its passage is prevented in such a manner that a hopper is formed to hold the articles during such time as the receiver bag is being removed and a further empty bag fitted. The said wall may be further pivotable such than an operator may obtain access to at least the bottom of the chute such that any blockage therein may be cleared.

The full bags or others that might be required, can therefore be removed and replaced by empty bags without interruption to the sorting of other articles and without having necessarily to stop the machine.

By way of example, a machine incorporating a device for transfer of an article from a stationary loading tray to a moving tray and finally into a pro-selected receiver bag in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of one of the moving trays and the associated mechanical memory mechanism, which tray forms part of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of the driving means for the moving trays of the machine;

FIGURE 4 is a diagram showing the sequence of operation of the memory fingers and the releasable latch provided on each of the moving trays;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the setting unit associated with one of the loading tables;

FIGURE 6 is a section along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation of the means for partial resetting of the moving fingers on each of the moving trays after release of a package therefrom;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the means for final resetting of the memory fingers on each of the moving trays after release of a package therefrom; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one of the chutes of the machine shown in FIGURE 1.

With reference to the drawings, the machine is for sorting articles or packages, e.g. parcels, into a plurality of receiver bags. The machine as shown has forty-eight receiver bags arranged in a ring around a fixed vertical axis 19. Above each bag, there is,,in this example, an associated chute 29,, on to which the bag is hung. Above these chutes 29 there is a framework 21 which is rotatable about the said vertical axis 19in a plane parallel to but spaced above the plane of the chutes 29. This framework 21 comprises sixteen equally spaced shutter units or moving trays 23, the trays being located to rotate directly above the chutes 29 leading to the bags 21 The weight of the trays 23 is taken by a plurality of rollers 22 hearing on the underside of the members 25 of the framework, which rollers are at about the same distance from the said vertical axis 19 as the inner ends of the trays; In addition, the sixteen trays 23, are connected together by the members 25 of the framework 21 to form a complete circle. One of the weight-carrying rollers 22 is a driven wheel 90 (see FIGURE 3) which is held in contact with the ring formed by the members 25 by means of a pneumatic actuator or jack 91, the wheel thus being able to cause the whole framework 21 to rotate about the vertical axis 19. The wheel is carried on one end of an arm 92 which is centrally pivoted to a support 93. The wheel 90 is driven by an electric motor 94 and the end of the arm 92 carrying the wheel 90 is urged in an upward direction on to the underside of the members 25 by the jack 91. The other end of the arm 92 is provided with a brake pad 95 which can be applied to the underside of the members 25 by contraction of the jack, which action will also have the effect of disengaging the wheel 90 from the members 25, the arm 92 pivoting about its central pivot.

The trays 23 constitute the moving trays of the device of theinvention. At two points diametrically opposed to each other in the rotation of the moving trays, the trays pass under a loading table 24. In each table 24, or just below the plane of the table, there are two stationary loading trays 26 and two associated address key boards 26a.

A conveyor 27 is also provided for supplying the operators at each loading table 24 with packages from a central hopper or similar supply source (not shown) positioned vertically over the centre of the machine, the conveyors terminating in short chutes 28 leading on to the loading tables between the two loading trays thereof.

Each loading tray 26 and each of the moving trays 23 is provided (as can best be seen from FIGURE 2) with a base consisting of two halves 60 hinged about axes 61 which halves are held in their closed position by a latch 62, which engages with a pin projecting from one of the halves 60. The latch is released by rotation of a shaft 63. The two halves 60 of the tray are urged into their open position by a spring 64 and are mechanically connected together by a link 67 whereby both halves move together into their open and closed positions. When open, the two halves are returned to their closed position by an arm 65 mounted on the hinge bar 61 of one of the halves and having at its free end a roller 66 engageable with a cam or other surface located on the framework immediately before each of the loading stations.

Each moving tray is also provided with a mechanism, which will now be described, for controlling and initiating the opening of the base of the tray whereby the base may be opened to transfer a package thereon into the preselected bag it).

Mounted on the shaft 63 of each moving tray 23 is a row of rotatable fingers 42. These fingers are in three groups, the two groups 44, 45 each comprising four key fingers 69, and the group 68 comprising six unit fingers 70. Also the group 44 of fingers 69 are employed for the four sets of six bags 20 comprising the first set of twenty-four bags or the twenty-four bags on one side of the circle and the group 45 of fingers 69 are employed for the four sets of six bags comprising the second set of twenty-four bags. When the operator of a loading tray effects the pre-selection of a packages destination or receiver bag 20, two of these fingers on one of the moving trays are set to effect opening of the two halves of the moving tray when the moving tray arrives at a predetermined position in relation to the required bag. One

of these fingers is a key finger 69 and the other finger is a unit finger 70, which fingers are caused to rotate a part way around the shaft 63 until their heels 76, 77 contact a stop 71 (see FIGURE 4). A separate stop is provided for each group of fingers and each stop comprises a bar 72 (see FIGURES 2 and 4) movable in fixed relation with the shaft 63 by means of the arms 72a and connected by springs 73 to each of its associated fingers.

The means for setting one of the key fingers and one of the unit fingers in this manner comprises a setting unit associated with the loading trays 26 of each loading table 24. Each setting unit (see FIGURES 5 and 6) comprises two groups 110, 111 of key setting fingers 112 and one group 113 of unit setting fingers 114, each finger corresponding to one of the key or unit fingers on each moving tray 23. These fingers 112, 114 are operated eleotro-pneumatically by means of solenoids 115 and air jacks 116, which jacks are extended on energisation of the respective solenoid and contracted by spring-pressure. Extension ofthe jack 116 for one of the fingers 112, 114 will cause it to move the finger into the path of the associated finger on the oncoming moving tray and so cause the finger on the moving tray to be rotated a part way around its shaft 63 as explained above. Also, unless both of the setting fingers move in this manner, an arm 117 (see FIGURE 6) is deflected which deflection operates warning means (e.g. lights a lamp) to inform the operator that both the setting fingers 112, 114 have not ben actuated. Energisation of the solenoids is effected by the pre-selection of the destination which is required for a package, which pre-selection is made by the operator of that particular loading tray. In operation, one of the setting fingers 112 and one of the setting fingers 114 are moved into the path of corresponding fingers 69, 70 on each moving tray 23 for each preselection by the operator. Hence a pre-selection for a package is mechanically transferred to the fingers 42 on one of the moving trays as the tray 23 passes under the loading tray 26 and at the same time as the package is transferred to the moving tray.

Means are also provided for interconnecting the loading trays 26 of each loading table 24 so that only one tray can be operated to deposit a package on to a moving tray passing beneath, at any one time. In this example, these means are electronic means controlled by four switches, two switches being for each loading tray, and each switch being operated by a magnet on the moving tray on which a package is to be deposited. In respect of the first loading tray, the first switch will allow the loading tray to open if the oncoming moving tray is unloaded and if the loading tray is loaded and if the address has been set by the appropriate operator on the address key board 260. Also opening of the loading tray initiates the transfer of the address from the address key board by an electrical address circuit to the setting fingers 112, 114 and causes the setting fingers to be set. The second switch for this loading tray will effect closure of the tray. In respect of the second loading tray, the first switch will operate if the aforementioned provisions are fulfilled and in addition the first loading tray is not being used. The second switch of the second loading tray will effect closure of the second loading tray and in addition cancel the electrical address circuit for that loading tray from which the package was taken and reset the setting fingers 112, 114 of the setting unit.

In operation, as a moving tray 23, which has had its memory set in the manner outlined above, enters the arc of the circle of bags 20 associated with its key finger 69 which has been rotated, the toe 74 of the key finger (see FIGURES 2 and 4) will strike a key trip 46 which will, in turn, cause the finger 69 to be driven against its stop bar 72 on the shaft 63. Such action will rotate the shaft 63 a fixed amount, that is until the shaft is held against further movement by a roller 83 on one arm 84 of a cranked lever 85 acting against the step of a cam lever 82 (see FIGURE 7), which lever 82 is mounted on the shaft 63 and is referred to again below. This rotation of the shaft 63 will allow the toe 75 of the pre-set unit finger 70 to be moved into the path that will cause it to be struck by an associated unit trip 47 in the said are of the circle of receiver bags, the said trip 47 being associated with the particular receiver bag into which the package is to be transferred. By way of explanation therefore, the sequence diagram shown in FIG- URE 4 is divided into five groups. The first group shows the normal or reset state of the shaft 63, the fingers 69, 70 and the releasable latch 62. The second group shows the set positions of the fingers 69, 70. The third group shows the position of the fingers and the latch after the set key finger has been tripped by the key trip 46 and the fourth group shows the positions of the fingers and the latch after the unit trip has operated and the latch has been released to open the halves of the moving tray. Finally the fifth group shows the fingers about to be reset, the means for effecting this resetting of the fingers being described below. The corresponding positions of the lever 82 have also been shown on FIGURE 7. It will also be noticed from FIGURE 4 that a sufiicient amount of lost motion is provided between the releasable latch 62 on the moving tray and the shaft 63 to allow this degree of rotation of the shaft without causing the latch to be released and the halves of the moving tray to be opened. It will further be noticed from FIGURE 4 that the latch 62 is moved by a pin 80 which passes through the shaft 63 and which projects on both sides thereof and is returned by a bungee cord 81. In a similar manner as above described, contact between the toe 75 of the unit finger 70 and the unit trip 47 will cause through itsheel 77 further rotation of the shaft 63 so that all lost motion between the shaft 63 and the releasable latch 62 on the moving tray 23 is taken up and will thereby (through the pin 80) cause the latch 62 to be released to allow the hinged halves or doors 60 of the moving tray to open. These control means are arranged so that the halves 60 will open at the instant when the combination of the vertical acceleration due to gravity and the peripheral velocity of the package due to rotation of the moving tray 23 will allow the package to drop into the chute 29 above the pre-selected bag 20.

Means are also provided to be engaged by the next key trip 46 to return the fingers 69, 70, which have just operated the moving tray, to their pre-set position, the fingers thereby being unengageable by any of the following trips. These means are shown in FIGURE 7 and comprise the above-mentioned lever 82 which is engageable by the roller 83 at the free end of the arm 84 of the cranked lever 85. This lever is mounted on an extension to one of the hinge bars 61 of the moving tray 23 and isfree to rotate about the bar. In operation, when the latch 62 has been rotated to release the halves of the moving tray so that they are opened, the bungee cord 81 will return the latch to its normal position causing the shaft 63 to be restored partly to its set position. The aforesaid shaft is further rotated by the bungee cord 99 acting on the cam lever 82 until roller 83 engages once more against the step of the cam lever. In this position the other arm 86 of the cranked lever 85 is in the path of the next key trip 46 which will strike it causing it to rotate through a small angle in an anticlockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 7) whereby the roller 83 is raised above the step in the cam lever 82, the aforesaid cam lever then rotating in a clockwise direction, by action of the bungee cord 99, to restore the shaft 63 to its set position. As the arm 86 passes the key trip 46, the raised portion 82a of the cam lever 82 will be under the roller 83 and the other arm of the cranked lever 85 will be held in a raised position which is clear of the path of subsequent key trips 46.

Having depositedthe package into the pre-selected bag 20, the mechanical memory on the moving tray 23, as represented by the pre-set key and unit fingers 69, 70, is erased by means of a bar 90 or 90a and a movable arm 91 which bar 90 or 90a strikes the pre-set key finger 69 and which arm 91 strikes the pre-set unit finger 70 to cause them to be rotated back on the shaft 63 away from their respective stops 72 (see FIGURES 4 and 8). The said bar 90 or 90:: and arm 91 are positioned on the opposite side of the shaft 63 to the key and unit trips 46, 47

(i.e. above the shaft 63) and before the next loading table 24. Also, the bar shown in full lines is provided before one of the loading tables and the bar 90a shown in chain lines is provided before the other loading table, the method of operation of the bars 90, 90a being described below. The fingers 42 on the moving tray 23 may thus be again pre-set for the transfer of a further package.

As stated above, there are, in this example, two loadingtables 24. It is thus necessary to provide means for automatically monitoring the mechanical mernory pre-set on each moving tray 23 as it approaches each of the loading tables 24. These means are, in this example, photo-electric means. As stated above, one set of key fingers 69 is provided for the first twenty four bags 20 and the other set of key fiingers is provided for the second twenty-four bags. Should the memory pre-set refer to the previous receiving-bags 20, the memory will be erased or cancelled by the bar 90 or 90a and the arm 91, the key and unit fingers beinglocated in the channels A and C or B and C respectively depending on which of the loading trays the moving tray is approaching. However, if the memory pre-set refers to the subsequent receiving bags and if, for example, the key and unit fingers are located in the channels B and C, the part 98 of the pre-set key finger will interrupt a light beam passing between a lamp 92 and a photo-cell 93 across the channel B and an electrical signal will be generated to energise a solenoid 94 which will in turn cause an air jack 95 to raise the arm 91 above the unit finger in the channel C. The memory fingers 69, 70 will thereby remain in their set positions. In respect of the other loading station, the bar 90a will be effective and the lamp 92 and a photocell 93a will be operative in the channel A.

Each loading tray 26 and moving tray 23 measures 11" x 26" whilst the bags measure only 12" x 12" in cross-section. In order that large packages may enter the bags from a moving tray, the base of the chute 29 associated with each bag (see FIGURE 9) is inclined so that the package contacts the base 30 and then nose-dives into the bag. The front wall 31 of the chute 29 is also pivotable about its top end and is movable into any one of three positions. With reference to FIGURE 1, the front wall 31 has the reference 32 when it is shown in the position which allows a package to pass from the moving tray 23 to the bag 20, and the reference 33 when it is inclined forwardly to prevent such passage. This second position is used when it is desired to change the bag without stopping the machine, the chute acting as a temporary bag during the changeover. In order to clear this temporary bag or the chute at any time, the front wall may be opened outwardly of the chute to a third position, see reference numeral 34.

The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the machine described above. For example, it is to be appreciated that the control means may be readily adapted to provide for operation in the case of the machine having more than two loading tables 24 and/or more than two loading trays 26 associated with each loading table.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for sorting a collection of articles into any one of a plurality of receiver bags, which apparatus comprises a plurality of stationary receiver bags arranged vertically in a circle about a vertical axis, a plurality of stationary loading trays arranged at spaced-apart points above the circle of receiver bags, a plurality of moving trays mounted for continuous movement in a circular path beneath each loading tray and above each receiver bag, said moving trays having a latch thereon and being openable on release of said latch, driving means coupled to said trays and driving the moving trays, as a single unit, around the circular path whereby each moving tray passes under each of the loading trays and above each of the receiver bags, means associated with each loading tray for selecting a particular receiver bag into which it is required to deposit an article being sorted, means associated with each loading tray for initiating and controlling the transfer, by dropping, of an article from each loading tray when loaded to one of the moving trays, a mechanical memory mechanism attached to each mov ing tray for remembering a pro-selection of a receiver bag for an article transferred to the moving tray, and means for initiating and controlling the transfer, also by dropping, of an article from a loaded moving tray to the preselected receiver bag, the means for initiating this second transfer comprising means above said circular Path and engageable with said mechanical memory mechanism to release the releasable latch on the moving tray to open the moving tray when the position of the moving tray relative to the pre-selected receiver bag is such that the article thereon will fall into the bag.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the said means associated with each loading tray for transferring the pre-selection of a receiver bag to the memory mechanism of one of the moving trays comprise a first set of levers which are actuable electronically in accordance with the required pre-selection, the said memory mechanism attached to each moving tray comprises a second set of levers which, when the associated moving tray is unloaded, are actuahle by the first set of levers of one of the loading trays, whereby the pre-selection remembered by the first set of levers is transferred to the second set of levers, and in which the said means for initiating the transfer of an article from a loaded moving tray to the pro-selected receiver bag comprise fixed stop members associated with the pre-selected receiver bag, which members cause the second set of levers of the particular loaded moving tray to release the said releasable latch on the moving tray.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim' 2 in which said moving tray has a shaft thereon, the said second set of levers attached to each moving tray and the associated releasable latch being mounted on said shaft, the shaft and the releasable latch being in a lost motion relationship so that the said first set of levers of one of the loading trays can effect the transfer of the pre-selection remembered thereby to the second set of levers without releasing the said releasable latch.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising means associated with the loading trays whereby when the aforesaid mechanical memory mechanism, as it approaches a loading tray, retains a pre-selection for a previous receiver bag, the said mechanical memory will be cancelled, which means comprise members which are engageable with those levers of the said second set of levers of the mechanical memory mechanism which were actuated by the first set of levers in accordance with the particular pre-selection.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for initiating and controlling the transfer of an article from the loading tray comprises electronic control means associated with each loading tray for operating each loading tray to transfer an article to one of the moving trays, which means comprise a magnetically-operable switch associated with the loading tray, a magnet on each of the moving trays actuating said switch only when the moving trays are unloaded, whereby if a loaded moving tray passes beneath the loading tray, operation of the loading tray to deposit a further article on the moving tray is precluded. v

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the loading trays are arranged in pairs and in which the said electronic control means for the first loading tray of each pair is interlinked with the electronic control means for the second loading tray of each pair so that only one of the two loading trays can be operated at any one time to transfer an article to a moving tray passing below.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each mov ing tray is provided with a base comprising two parts hinged at their outer edge, means for pivoting the parts such that an article thereon may pass between the hinged parts, spring means urging the said hinged parts towards their open position and the said releasable latch for holding the said hinged parts in their closed position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each receiver bag is provided with a chute to orient an article being transferred thereto from a moving tray whereby, at a position located between the moving tray and the receiver bag, the article is orientated so that it passes through the mouth of the receiver bag with its greatest dimension in the direction of the axis of the receiver bag.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the inner side wall of each chute slopes outwardly at an angle and ends in a vertical neck slide, the sloping inner side wall being positioned so that a long article located radially on the moving tray with respect to the circle of receiver bags will, when falling into the chute, strike its inner end on the aforesaid sloping side and then pass down the chute, its outer end leading, into the receiver bag below.

(References on following page) 9 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,086,636 4/1963 Raynor 19838 X 3,100,040 8/1963 Kleist 198-38 5 3,105,601 10/1963 Smoll 19838 X l 0 3,137,390 6/1964 Atanasoff 21411 X 3,198,352 8/1965 Puechberty 19838 X EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SORTING A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES INTO ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF RECEIVER BAGS, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY RECEIVER BAGS ARRANGED VERTICALLY IN A CIRCLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY LOADING TRAYS ARRANGED AT SPACED-APART POINTS ABOVE THE CIRCLE OF RECEIVER BAGS, A PLURALITY OF MOVING TRAYS MOUNTED FOR CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT IN A CIRCULAR PATH BENEATH EACH LOADING TRAY AND ABOVE EACH RECEIVER BAG, SAID MOVING TRAYS HAVING A LATCH THEREON AND BEING OPENABLE ON RELEASE OF SAID LATCH, DRIVING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID TRAYS AND DRIVING THE MOVING TRAYS, AS A SINGLE UNIT, AROUND THE CIRCULAR PATH WHEREBY EACH MOVING TRAY PASSES UNDER EACH OF THE LOADING TRAYS AND ABOVE EACH OF THE RECEIVER BAGS, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH LOADING TRAY FOR SELECTING A PARTICULAR RECIEVER BAG INTO WHICH IT IS REQUIRED TO DEPOSIT AN ARTICLE BEING SORTED, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH LOADING TRAY FOR INITIATING AND CONTROLLING THE TRANSFER, BY DROPPNG, OF AN ARTICLE FROM EACH LOADING TRAY WHEN LOADED TO ONE OF THE MOVING TRAYS, A MECHANICAL MEMORY MECHANISM ATTACHED TO EACH MOVING TRAY FOR REMEMBERING A PRE-SELECTION OF A RECEIVER BAG FOR AN ARTICLE TRANSFERRED TO THE MOVING TRAY, AND MEANS FOR INITIATING AND CONTROLLING THE TRANSFER, ALSO BY DROPPING, OF AN ARTICLE FROM A LOADED MOVING TRAY TO THE PRESELECTED RECEIVER BAG, THE MEANS FOR INITIATING THIS SECOND TRANSFER COMPRISING MEANS ABOVE SAID CIRCULAR PATH AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID MECHANICAL MEMORY MECHANISM TO RELEASE THE RELEASABLE LATCH ON THE MOVING TRAY TO OPEN THE MOVING TRAY WHEN THE POSITION OF THE MOVING TRAY RELATIVE TO THE PRE-SELECTED RECEIVER BAG IS SUCH THAT THE ARTICLE THEREON WILL FALL INTO THE BAG. 